Quantity of cholesterol extracted from the human skin surface: A possible discriminant of atherosclerosis?

Research Institute of Physicochemical Medicine, Ministry of Health, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 5, pp. 481–483, May, 1992.     

Effect of oxidized LDL on hemolytic resistance of erythrocyte

Using the method of peroxide-induced chemiluminescence we showed that incubation of the whole blood with oxidized LDL or oxidized blood plasma increased plasma hemoglobin concentration, which linearly depended on the degree of LDL oxidation. Similar effects were observed in erythrocyte suspension. Hemolytic activity of oxidized plasma 3-4-fold surpassed that of LDL isolated by ultracentrifugation. LDL capacity to oxidation in the presence of Cu²⁺ increased by 50% and osmotic hemolysis of erythrocytes increased by 53% in coronary patients in comparison with healthy donors. These results indicate that oxidized LDL induce erythrocyte hemolysis.     

Effect of fibrinogen on functional activity of blood leukocytes

Fibrinogen intensified luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of blood leukocytes stimulated with opsonized zymosan. It is hypothesized that fibrinogen stimulates and prolongs functional activity of leukocytes during inflammation.     

Multicentre study of the determination of peak oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold during bicycle exercise in chronic heart failure: Comparison of graphical methods, interobserver variability and influence of the exercise protocol

Assessment of the ventilatory threshold (VT) has been proposedto assess exercise tolerance more objectively, particularlyin clinical trials, but reproducibility, interobserver variabilityand feasibility of the graphical methods for determination ofVT have not been properly studied in patients with chronic heartfailure (CHF). Fifty-one patients with mild to moderate CHF(mean peak oxygen uptake (VO₂): 20·5 ml. min^–1. kg^–1) were assessed during two consecutive bicycle exercisetests within 8 days. Two graded exercise protocols were comparedwith stages of 30 Wevery 3min (22 patients) or 10 W$$$ min (29patients). VT was determined separately by five trained physiciansusing five different graphical methods. The ‘crossing method’ (first crossing of the VCO₂and VO² curves) yielded the highest rate of determination (88%)but tended to overestimate the mean VT. The VE method (disproportionateincrease of ventilation relative to VO₂) produced the best interobserveragreement (coefficient of variation=78%). Peak VO₂ was very highly reproducible in both exercise protocols(relative difference test 2-test l/test 1=–0.32% for the30 W3 min protocol;+2·18% for the 10 W. min^–1 protocol).The reproducibility of VT was slightly lower regardless of thegraphical method used to determine it (relative cflfferencesvaried from –3·3% to+7·3%). Therefore, peakVO₂ appears more suitable than VT for assessment of exercisetolerance in CHF.     

Affinity hemosorbent for the binding of atherogenic lipoproteins

An affine hemosorbent, a product of covalent heparin immobilization on a solid matrix, has been proposed for the extraction of atherogenic lipoproteins. The sorbent has high capacity with respect to atherogenic lipoproteins and is selective with other blood constituents. Experimental hemosorption in animals demonstrated rapid sorbent regeneration and satisfactory hemo- and biocompatibility, therefore the new sorbent can be recommended for clinical application.